7 Tips for Using Virgin Coconut Oil for Hair Care

Virgin coconut oil can be a very effective beauty and health treatment, especially for hair in less than perfect condition. Use the following tips to get your hair back in top-notch shape in no time.

1. Soak dry hair in coconut oil for one to 12 hours for optimum moisturizing.

Apply coconut oil in liquid form to damp hair before washing. Wrap hair in a shower cap or other plastic covering and leave oil on hair for one to 12 hours. The drier your hair, the longer you should leave it on. Wash out thoroughly with a natural shampoo like Biconi Hair Rejuvenating Shampoo. Not only does this treatment moisturize dry hair, it also prevents frizzies and flyaways.

2. Soaking for about 4 hours encourages new hair growth and fullness when thinning hair is a problem.

The structure of virgin coconut oil makes it perfect for penetrating hair follicles, making thin hair appear fuller and more conducive to new hair growth. Whether from an illness, pregnancy aging, thinning hair is not inevitable with coconut oil treatments.

3. No time to soak hair? Get some of the same benefits from mixing shampoo with coconut oil.

A 50/50 mixture of coconut oil and shampoo will give some of the same benefits as soaking hair, just to a lesser degree. But if you don't have time or don't like the feeling of soaking hair, this is a good option.

4. Applying coconut oil to the scalp can improve dandruff symptoms in just a week or two.

For best results, warm oil over low heat for a few minutes. Test temperature to avoid burning the scalp, then massage oil into scalp all over. Leave it to set for awhile and then rinse out with a good, mild dandruff shampoo. Another alternative: about once a week, mix coconut oil with lemon juice. Apply to scalp overnight, then wash out in the morning for dandruff free hair.

5. Coconut oil can replenish even badly damaged hair.

Because it contains proteins that hair needs to heal damage from overprocessing or use of harsh products, coconut oil can be a source of nutrition for hair to heal it naturally. Apply warm oil to hair from top to bottom, leave in for one hour, then wash out, being sure to use a gentle, natural shampoo that will not further damage hair.

6. For routine hair care, less is more when it comes to coconut oil.

Overapplying the oil can leave normal, healthy hair looking greasy and limp. Apply a small amount of oil to ends of hair to prevent splitting and breakage, or rub just a drop between palms and apply to flyaway hair to smooth it. If hair looks greasy, use less oil or apply oil just before shampooing to add some moisture.

7. Mixing coconut oil with other natural oils can be effective.

A mixture of coconut oil with other oils, like argan oil or jojoba oil can cut the greasiness of the treatment or make it more effective as an after-shampoo treatment. Experiment with different mixtures and amounts to see which combination gives the best results.